Syringe device



A. E. SMITH SYRINGE DEVICE June 25, 1929.

Filed Dec. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet INVEN TOR. ARTHUR E. SMITH ATTORNEY.

June 25, 1929. A. E. SMITH 1,718,600

SYRINGE'DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ARTHUR E. SMITH.

Patented June 25, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. SMITH, 0] LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SYRINGE DEVICE.

Application filed December 17, 1927. Serial No. 240,796.

This invention relates to improvements in hypodermic syringes.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved syringe wherein the substance to be'ejected is contained in a cartridge-likeampule which is provided with a slidab'le stopper and wherein improved means is provided for automatically and for correctly positioning the ampule in the syringe.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an improved syringe having an ejector plunger which is adapted to-enter an ampule contained therein and engage the stopper of ,the ampule in a novel manner to move the stopper within the ampule.

A further object of the invention is to provide a syringe of the class described having an improved means for correctly centering the ampule in the syringe before the ejector plunger-enters .the ampule to engage the stopper.

Further objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

. Fig. l s'a central longitudinal section through'my. improved syrlnge showing an ampule therein and showing the ejector plunger about to be operated to move the ampule stopper to eject the contents of the ampule: 1

Fig. 2 is a side view of the syringeshow;

ing the positions of the various elements after the contents of the ampule have been ejected.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line.3 3 of Fig. 2 showing an amp ule being positioned in the syringe. Y

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the syringe taken on line 4- 1 of Fig. 2, with the ampule removed. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section of an ampule such as shown in use in my improved syringe.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged centrallongitudinal section through the stopper of'the ampule.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of am pule which may be used in my improved syringe. I

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 showing the ampule prepared for use and ready for .a hollow body portion or barrel 11 having screw threads 12 provided at one end and having a fingergrip cross bar 13 provided adjacent the opposite end. In the barrel 11 oppositely disposed apertures 14 and oppositely disposed elongated slots 15 are pro- ;vided.

The end of. the syringe opposite the cross bar 13 is provided with a tip 16 which is shown as in threadedengagement with the screw threads 12 of the barrel. This tip 16 has. a reduced end 17 and is provided with a tapered recess 18 which communicates with an aperture 19 which extendsthrough the reduced end 17 of the tip 16 and the end 17 may be either threaded or tapered as shown.

The end of'the syringe opposite the tip 15 is adapted to be closed by a cap 21 which is preferably. secured to the barrel 11 by welding or in any other suitable "manner. As clearly shown in Fig. 5 the,cap 21 includes a central aperture 22 which is intersected at right angles by aligned oppositely disposed apertures 23. WVithin each of theapertures 23 there is positioned a slidable plug 2 1 which is adapted to be resiliently urged toward the central aperture 22 by a'coiledcompression spring 25. The coiled springs 25 are shown as adapted to be retained in'the apertures 23 by screw threaded plugs 26 which engage like &

screw threads provided in the barrel 11 and cap.21.'

1 The adjacent faces of the slidable plugs 26 are formed concave to conform to the periphery of an ejector or plungerrod 27 which is positioned in the central aperture 22 of the cap. This plunger rod 27 includes at one end an enlarged thumb piece 28 and at the opposite end an enlarged head 29 and a recess 30. The slidable plugs 26 engage the plunger rod 27 and provide tension thereon which maintains the plunger-rod in any position at which it may be stopped or adjusted.

cap 21 and the enlarged head 29 I provide an ampule centering device 31 which has ashd- Mount-ed on the plunger rod 27 between the centering device as shown is provided with a recess 33, shown as conical, in its lower face which is tapered towards the aperture 32 and at the juncture of the aperture 32 and the conical recess 33 a recess 34 is provided.

The recess 34 is of a size sufiicient to allow the enlarged head 29 of the plunger rod 27 to be positioned therein when it is drawn into contact with the centuring device. As clearly shown in Fig. 6 the centering device 31 also includes a pair of aligned oppositely disposed recesses 35, the longitudinal axes of which are at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the aperture 32. Within each of the recesses 35 there is provided a cup shaped slidable plug 36, the solid face of which is adapted to be resiliently urged into contact with the barrel 11 of the syringe by a coiled compression spring 37, one end of which is positioned in the cupped portion of the plug and the opposite end of which bears against the end of the recess 35. Ears 38 are provided on the outer faces of each of the plugs 36 and are adapted to extend through the elongated slots 15 in the barrel 11.

The spring pressed plugs 36 frietionally engage the inner faces of the sides of the barrel 11 and maintain the centering device 31 in any position to which it may be'moved. To move the centering device 31 in the barrel 11 the ears 38-are grasped between the thumb and forefinger of an operators hand and pressed inward, thereby removing the friction of the plugs 36 from the barrel 11 and allowing the centering device to move freely.

In Fig. 7 I have indicated generally at 40 an ampule-such as I- have shown used in my improved syringe 10. This ampule 40 ineludes a body portion or compartment 41 provided at one end with a tapered neck 42 which terminates in a closed tip 43. To make the tip .43 readily separable from the tapered neck 42 I may weaken it by scoring or etching it as indicated at 44. Surrounding the tapered neck 42 just above the etched portion 44 I provide an elongated resilient collar 45 which is preferably made of a good grade of rubber and which is arranged to firmly grip the ampule. The end ofthe ampule opposite the tapered neck 42 is shown as formed plain and open and may be covered by a gelatinous cap 46.

Adjacent the open end of the ampule I provide a stopper indicated generally at 47 and shown in detail in Fig. 8. This stopper 47 is preferably made of a good grade of rubber and includes a body portion 48 having a protruding tip 49 extending therefrom.

At the uncture of the'body portion 48 and the tip 49 a groove 50. shown as semi-circular. is provided so that when the stopper is used as a piston to expel the contents of the amp'ule the pressure exerted upon the stopper by the contents of the ampule will cause the lower edge of the stopper to tightly grip the inner side walls of the ampule and prevent any of thecontents from passing the stopper.

Grooves 51 are preferably provided in the surface of the body 48 and a lubricant 52, such as glycerine, may be placed therein so as to lessen the friction of the stopper against the side wall of the ampule when it is moved therein.

A recess 53 is provided in the upper face of the body portion 48 and at the bottom of the recess 53 an enlarged metallic disk 04 having a central aperture therein is provided. A lug 55 integral with the body portion 48 is provided and extends up through the aperture in the disk 54 a distance above the upper face of the stopper. The recess 53 is of a size sufficient to allow the enlarged head 29 of the plunger rod 27 to enter and the lug 55 is of a size to fit within the recess 30 in the end ofthe plunger rod 27 and the end of the lug is preferably formed tapered as shown so that it will more readily enter the recess 30.

To prepare the ampule 40 for use in my improved syringe 10 the tip 43 is broken off at the etching 44 and the cap 40 is removed.

To prepare the syringe 10 to receive an ampule the plunger rod 27 is drawn towards the cap 21 until the head 29 thereof seats it self in the recess 34 of the centering device 31, whereupon on further movement of the plunger rod the centering device 31 will be drawn towards the cap 21 until the cars 38 abut the ends of the slots 15. The ampule is then inserted through the apertures 14 into the barrel 11 of the syringe as shown in Fig. 3 and the resilient collar 45 of the ampule is positioned in the tapered recess 18 of the tip 16. The centering device 31 is then moved towards the tip 16 until the end of the ampule is firmly seat-ed within the tapered recess This correctly centers the ampule in the syringe body. The plunger rod 27 is then moved towards the tip 16 until the head 29 thereof enters the recess 53 of the stopper and abuts the metallic disk 54 and the lug 55 is positioned in the recess 30 of the plunger rod as shown in Fig. 1.

1 The lnetallic disk forms a substantial hearing surface for the end of the plunger rod and the lug 55 prevents the end of the plunger rod from skidding to one side and tilting the stopper 47.

Upon further movement of the plunger rod towards the tip 16 the plunger will force the stopper 47 towards the tapered neck 42 of the ampule and cause the stopper to act as a piston to expel the contents of the ampule into the hypodermic needle 20.

The pressure of the plugs 36 of the centering device 31 against the inner surface of the barrel 11 will maintain the centering device in engagement with the end of the ampule throughout the ejecting operation and the plugs 25 will maintain the plunger rod 27 in whatever position it may be stopped at during an ejecting operation.

The pressure required to move the stopper 47 to expel the contents of the ampule will wedge the collar 45 into the tapered recess 18 of the tip 16 and form a fluid tight seal between the end ofthe ampule and the syringe.

To remove the ampule from the syring the plunger rod 27 and the centering device 31 are moved towards the cap 21 as previously described, and then the ampule may be readily removed from thebarrel 11 through one of the apertures 14.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have indicated generally at 57 a modified form of ampule for use in my improved syringe 10. This ampule 57 includes a body portion or compartment 58 which terminates in a closed tip 61. At the juncture of the bulbous portion 59 and the compartment 58 a constricted portion is pro vided as indicated at 62. In the compartment 58 and adjacent the constriction 62 I provide a stopper 63 which is shown as similar in all respects to the stopper 47 shown in detail in Fig. 8. Surrounding the tapered neck 60 it provide a resilient collar 64 which is preferably made of a good grade of rubber and which tightly engages the ampule similar to the collar 45 shown in connection with the ampule 40.

To render the bulbous portion 59 readily separable from the compartment 58 I prefcrably weaken the constricted portion by etching it or otherwise marking it as at 65 and to render the tip 61 readily separable from the tapered neck 60 l may also weaken it by etching it or otherwise marking it just below the resilient collar 64 as at 66.

To prepare this modified form of ampule 57 for use the bulbous portion 59 is broken off at the etching 65 and the tip 61 is broken off at the etching 66 as clearly shown in Fi 10. This ampule 57 is inserted in the syringe 10 in the same manner as previously described in connection with the ampule 40, the head 29 of the plunger rod 27 entering the ampule through the opening at the constriction 62.

In Fig. 11 it show a small ampule 7O arranged in the syringe. This shows the wide range of sizes of ampules with which my improved syringe functions.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that it have provided a novel form of hypodermic syrings which can be economically manufactured, which is simple in construction and highly efficient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: a i

1. In a syringe adapted to receive an ampule, a barrel, an ampule positioning member mounted to move longitudinally in said barrel, a plunger rod movable in said barrel, and readily releasable means on sa1d positioning member normally adapted to frictionally engage said barrel to hold said positioning member in set position.

"2. An ampule for use in a syringe, said am-' pule comprising a hollow body, a stopper in said ampule. a recess in said stopper, a central upwardly projecting member on said stopper and projecting into said recess and a washer at the bottom of said recess.

3. An ampule comprising a hollow body, a stopper in said ampule, a member on said stopper and projecting from one end thereof and a still member on said stopper, said stiff member including a portion arranged about said projecting member.

4. In a syringe adapted to receive an am pule, a barrel, a pair of oppositely disposed slots in said barrel, an ampule positioning member mounted to move longitudinally in said barrel, a plunger rod movable in said barrel, means in said positioning men'iber normally adapted to frictionally engage said barrel, and means associated with said last 'mentioned means to release the friction engagement.

5. In a syringe adapted to receive an ampule, a barrel, a pair of oppositely disposed slots in said barrel, an ampule positioning member adapted to move longitudinally in said barrel, a plunger rod movable in said barrel, in ans in said positioning member normally adapted to frictionally engage said barrel, said means including a pair of oppositely disposed spring pressed members, said members each including a portion positioned in saidslots of said barrel and l'leing adapted to movelongitudinally in said slots.

6. In asyringe adapted to receive an ampule, a barrel, a plunger rod movable in said barrel, an ampule, a stopper in said ampule, a recess in said stopper, a central upwardly projecting member in said recess, a stiff washer at the bottom of said recess, an enlarged head on said plunger rod and a recess in said plunger rod adjacent said head, said plunger rod engaging said stopper, said plungenrod head fitting said recess in said stopper and engaging said washer, said upwardly projecting member of said stopper, when said plunger rod is in engagementwith said stopper, being adapted to be positioned in said recess in said plunger rod.

7. In a syringe adapted to receive an ampule, a barrel, a closure for one endofsaidbarrel, a plunger, a pair of oppositely disposed apertures in said barrel and a pair of oppositely disposed slots in said barrel, an ampule positioning member adapted to move longitudinally in said barrel, means on said closure adapted to frictionally engage said plunger rod, said means including spring pressed plugs, means in said positioning member normally adapted to frictionally engage said barrel, said means including spring pressed plugs, said plugs each including a member positioned in said slots of said barrel and bleing adapted to move longitudinally in said s ots.

8. In a syringe adapted to receive an ampule, a barrel, a closure for one end of said barrel, a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal apertures in said barrel and a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal slots in said barrel, an ampule positioning member adapted to move longitudinally in said barrel, a plunger rod, said plunger rod being mounted to move longitudinally through said closure and said positioning member, means in said closure adapted to frictionally engage; said plunger rod, said means including a pair of oppositely disposed spring pressed plugs,vsaid plugs being arranged to partly resiliently grip said plunger rod, means in said positioning means including a pair of oppositely disposed spring pressed plugs, said plugs'eacli including an ear positioned in one of said slots of said barrel and being adapted to move longitudinally in said slots, an ampule in said barrel, said ampule being adapted to be inserted in or removed from said syringe through said apertures in said barrel, a stopper in said ampule, a recess in said stopper, a central upwardly projecting member in said recess and a metallic washer at the bottom of said recess, an enlarged head on said plunger rod and a recess in said plunger rod adjacent said head, said plunger rod being adapted to enter said ampule and engage said stopper, said plunger rod head being adapted to enter said recess in said stopper and engage said metallic washer, said upwardly projecting member of said stopper, when said plunger rod is in engagement with said stopper, being adapted to be positioned in said recess of said plunger rod.

9. In a syringe, the combination of a barrel presenting a lateral opening, an ampule engaging member movable in said barrel, a closure member adjacent its front end, an anipule having one end seated endwise against said engaging member and removable laterally through said opening, the end of said barrel being cylindrical, said closure member including a cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion engaging the cylindrical end ofTs'aid barrel, said closure member having a recess therein, the upper portion of said recess being flaring and the lower portion of said recess being of less cross sectional area than the area of said flaring portion, said closure member having a reduced end thereon, said end portion having a hole therein communicating with said recess, the end of said ampule being tapered, a gasket engaging the tapered end of said ampule and means whereby said ampule engaging member holds said ampule in fluid tight engagement with the flaring wall of said recess.

10. In a syringe adapted to receive an aimpule, a barrel, a cap for said barrel, a plunger rod adapted to move longitudinally through said cap and in said barrel, an ampule positioning member surrounding said plunger rod and adapted to move longitudinally in said barrel independent of said plunger rod, means in said cap to resiliently engage said plunger rod and means in said positioning member to resiliently engage said barrel.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto allix my signature.

ARTHUR E. SMITH. 

